Daily News

Catholic Entities Undermine U.S. Bishops' Authority (8574)

In the case of the HHS contraception mandate, groups like the Catholic Health Association and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious have assumed authority where there is none, and the Obama administration has pounced on the opportunity to divide and conquer.

Recent headlines have told the story “Catholic Hospitals, Bishops Split on Health Care” and “Catholic Bishops Fight for Authority Over U.S. Flock.”

These volatile headlines refer to the fact that some Catholic individuals and organizations publicly disagree with the U.S. bishops about provisions of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. This opposition from within the Church makes the bishops’ effort to preserve religious freedom much more difficult, for the Obama administration and some Democrat congressmen have been quick to use a “divide and conquer” strategy by invoking these dissident groups as if they are legitimate Catholic authorities.

The most prominent Catholic supporter of Obamacare has been the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), led by its president and CEO, Sister Carol Keehan, a Daughter of Charity. Playing a supporting role for her have been the officers of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) and the conference’s lobbying arm, Network. Sister Carol declined to be interviewed for this story.

Not all sisters have followed the CHA and LCWR lead, however; for entire orders of women religious are beginning to speak out in support of the bishops. As of March 29, the Register had identified 23 orders of women religious who have posted on their websites statements supporting the bishops’ position. (See sidebar.)

Likewise, a statement of support has been issued by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR), an alternate superiors’ conference to LCWR that was canonically erected by the Vatican in 1992 after some superiors became disaffected with the LCWR leadership’s agenda to radically change religious life. CMSWR members are superiors who represent about 15% of U.S. women religious.

Nevertheless, Sister Carol and the other high-profile sisters who have publicly opposed the bishops’ position have been hailed by Obamacare supporters as having legitimate moral authority in the Church to counter the bishops. For example, on March 8 — International Women’s Day — Sister Carol was named by the Center for American Progress as one of “13 Religious Women to Watch in 2012 Changing the World for Good” because: “She was instrumental in garnering support for the Affordable Care Act in 2010, when CHA broke with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to publicly support the act. As a result, Keehan gave moral permission to legislators who were conflicted about supporting the bill.”

So, what gives these sisters and the CHA authority to grant “moral permission” for disagreement with the nation’s bishops?

Nothing. Neither the sisters nor the CHA hold any authority to speak for the Church on faith and morals: That authority belongs to the bishops alone, as Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., told Catholic News Service during his recent ad limina visit to the Vatican. He said that his group of Midwestern bishops also spoke with Vatican officials about the public support of the CHA and LCWR for the so-called “accommodation” in the HHS mandate. The bishops have rejected the “accommodation” because it still requires religious institutions to provide insurance that covers immoral services.

“Those efforts are really undercutting the Church and trying to divide it again by setting up two teaching authorities when there’s only one within the Church,” Archbishop Naumann said. “It’s a very serious issue, I think, particularly when religious try to insert themselves in the role of trying to be the teachers within the Church. They have important roles to play, but they are not the ones to teach on these matters.”

Furthermore, the CHA and the LCWR are run by executives who often issue statements without polling their full memberships on policy positions, even though they often imply a consensus of their members when that isn’t the case.

For example, the LCWR Feb. 10 statement of support for the HHS “accommodation” was issued in the name of its three officers only. Similarly, the CHA’s Feb. 10 statement was released only under the name of Sister Carol Keehan.

The LCWR and the CHA are closely linked, for the CHA board of trustees is made up chiefly of executives with the health-care systems that are sponsored by religious orders whose leaders belong to the LCWR. The canonical status of the two groups is different, however.

The LCWR is a canonically erected organization of religious superiors. In the 1950s, the Vatican had asked superiors to organize themselves into national conferences for mutual support and to facilitate communication with the Vatican. The LCWR now has about 1,500 members — only about 3% of the 55,000 Catholic sisters in this nation. The religious orders led by LCWR members hold about 85% of the nation’s women religious, but the individual sisters have no voice or vote at LCWR, even though the LCWR often claims to speak for the majority of U.S. sisters.

Since the LCWR is canonically erected, it must answer to the Vatican. The LCWR has had ongoing disagreements with Church authorities for years, and, in 2001, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith warned the LCWR about several doctrinal errors it had made regarding homosexuality, ordination of women priests and acceptance of the doctrine reiterated in Dominus Iesus (On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church).

In 2009, the CDF ordered a doctrinal assessment of the LCWR because the errors persisted. The LCWR also led highly publicized resistance to the recent apostolic visitation of women religious by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Results of those two Vatican initiatives have not yet been announced.

The CHA, on the other hand, is not an entity of the Catholic Church. It is not canonically erected, but is merely a trade organization that engages in political lobbying and professional development. It was started in 1915 by priests and sisters involved in health care, and now has a diverse membership that includes the religious orders that sponsor health-care facilities, as well as the facilities themselves, including health systems, hospitals, long-term-care facilities and related organizations. Most members are Catholic, but non-Catholic entities also may join if they meet certain requirements. CHA of the United States should not be confused with state CHAs, which are separate entities and usually associated with a state Catholic conference.

The CHA bylaws state: “The association shall maintain liaison and confer with the USCCB in those matters pertaining to religious and moral practice.” However, glaringly absent from the bylaws is any reflection of a commitment to the teachings of the Catholic Church or the authority of the U.S. bishops.

Canon law allows for these voluntary associations, but their oversight by Church officials is more nebulous than with a canonically erected entity. Canon lawyers consulted by the Register said that bishops have control over the use of “Catholic” in an association’s title (Canon 300 and 312:1:2), and a voluntary association needs the written consent of a diocesan bishop to establish itself in his diocese (Canon 312:2). Also, Canon 678 states that bishops maintain authority over the works of religious orders pertaining to “the care of souls, public exercise of divine worship and other works of the apostolate.”

The canonists said the bishops’ authority to shut down the CHA or a bishop’s ability to order a Catholic hospital in his diocese to leave the CHA were complex issues. However, in 2010, Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, R.I., did withdraw St. Joseph Health Services from CHA.

“I am very disappointed in the position that the CHA has taken under the leadership of Sister Carol Keehan on these last two issues — when Obamacare was passed and now with the debate over the HHS mandate,” Bishop Tobin said. “The whole debate over health care, and especially now the attack on the freedom of religion that will certainly affect the Catholic Church — this has been a moment of crisis and great anxiety for the Catholic Church — and it’s disappointing that one of the members of our family has abandoned us during this time.

“As I said in my letter to Sister Carol, I think it’s very divisive and causes confusion and scandal for people, and it does give a great deal of political cover to politicians who want to go off and do something that’s unacceptable.”

Bishop Tobin said that he was in a strong position to take this action since St. Joseph Health Services is sponsored by the diocese and not by a religious order. He said this was the only Catholic health system in his diocese, and he did not have all the canonical details about a bishop’s authority regarding membership in the CHA by a Catholic hospital or system not sponsored by the diocese.

“I think the bishops could certainly exert some moral influence and powers of persuasion even if they don’t have absolute canonical authority to do that,” Bishop Tobin said. “I’m sure they would have a great deal of weight doing that, because it is related to the Catholic mission and identity of the Catholic hospital or medical center.”

An active sister who did not want her name revealed because of possible repercussions in her order told the Register that some sisters have gotten so involved in doing the good work of taking care of the poor that “they have forgotten what being good — following the Gospel — really means.” Sister said that not all sisters whose religious orders sponsor hospitals in the CHA — as hers does — are happy with the stand of the CHA and the LCWR against the bishops. Individual sisters often have no power in their orders to change anything, she explained, and many are afraid to speak out because of retribution by their superiors.

“The CHA was willing to accept reductions in future Medicare payments and compromise their independence from government control with the hope of being relieved of the burden of providing uncompensated care” said Nelson, who is a law professor at Samford University specializing in health-care law.

“For these purposes, CHA was willing to part with the bishops on the questions of whether there were adequate conscience protections and restrictions on federal abortion financing in Obamacare,” Nelson said.

Signs of discontent within CHA over its Obamacare positions also have surfaced, and at least one sister-sponsored system has voted with its feet: The board of trustees of the Franciscan Alliance, which runs 14 hospitals in Indiana and Illinois, withdrew its system from the CHA in 2010 and demanded a refund of its membership fee. The Franciscan Alliance is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, Immaculate Heart of Mary Province.

Gene Diamond, CEO of the northern region of the four-region Franciscan Alliance, told the Register that “The bishops had taken a position on the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the Catholic Health Association, particularly Sister Carol Keehan, was attempting to lead Catholic hospitals in a different direction. We felt that it was important to support the bishops, particularly because we strongly agreed with them.”

Diamond said that he had concerns for years about the “woeful” ethical perspective of the CHA in its programs, seminars, speakers and publications. Thus, withdrawing from CHA membership has been “liberating” rather than detrimental, Diamond said. The principal “ostensible benefit” of membership in the CHA was to have a Catholic organization representing the members’ interests before Congress, the executive branch and various federal agencies, he explained.

“The problem is that they have been lobbying against our interests, not for our interests,” Diamond said.

Whether Catholic hospitals and health systems will stick with the CHA in opposition to the bishops is no doubt a big question now simmering in board rooms. An even bigger question is what the bishops will do about self-identified “Catholic” organizations that challenge the bishops’ moral authority, and how this outbreak of public dissent is likely to affect the bishops’ conference’s ability to secure religious freedom so that Church-affiliated institutions can continue their good works.

Religious Sisters Speak Out

As of March 29, 23 orders of women religious who have posted on their websites statements supporting the bishops’ position against the HHS mandate:

Comments

To In the Pew- Actually, I agree with all you wrote in your last comment. Lay people should be asked to weigh in on who pastors them, because it’s true, not all ordained men have shepherding skills. Too many pastors go with the flow, not wanting to rock the boat, so the status quo is kept, and doing so for bishops that too, want to keep the status quo.

The status quo is why we have this blog - those Catholics that are NOT afraid to rock the boat, and they have radical, left wing ideas that take root. When there is a vaccuum, something will fill it.

Does everyone know the “Catholic” San Diego University plans to hold a “Drag” race next week, and I don’t mean for cars, I mean as in a homosexual-type event. Those of us that want the event cancelled are asking their President Lyons, to stop it.

Her bishop asked that it not be held. But, he held no authority over the university, and his request was not heeded. Please: let’s all speak up!
Let’s find our collective voices, and see to it that our Catholic church is weeded of what ails us, and that God-honoring voices are heard.

Posted by In the pew on Thursday, Apr 5, 2012 10:55 AM (EST):

@Terrah James: I was only informing you that Christian Pastors generally wield far less authority in their neighborhood church than do Catholic Pastors. The body of Elders are the oversight for the fiscal and spiritual health of the church based upon NT biblical teachings. In contrast, when is the last time you as a parishioner had any voice in the selection of clergy assigned to your church? How often are priests assigned or forced upon a parish only to be found he was a poor choice for the socio-economic make up of said parish? As a result, how often do parishioners leave your parish for another parish? Not all Bishops are wise in their administration of Human Resource assignments. The Catholic church structure does not allow for NT Elders boards which are designed to protect these things from occurring. Contrary to your opinion, not all ordained men have shepherding skills.

Posted by Terah James on Wednesday, Apr 4, 2012 5:07 PM (EST):

To: In the Pew-
The role of an ordained man, be he deacon, priest or a bishop, is to shepherd the flock of Christ, sharing the Good News of the Gospel to those that *do not* know Jesus, and leading those of us that *do* know Jesus as Savior, closer to Him(through our having heard & accepted the Good News as being for us.) “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” That is really their role.

The reason our church is in such sad shape now, and US bishops are disregarded by almost everyone (except themselves & Rome) is because our collective FOCUS has been taken off of “The Great Commission”.

All of us are called upon to be able to give a wise & sound reason for our Christian faith, based on the SUBSTANTIATED & PROVEN FACTS of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and His coming again. How many of us can really do that, without reverting to superstition and hearsay? All distractions.

In lieu of obeying Jesus’ Great Commission, our focus has been placed on this:

1) lay people sitting back in our pews, like consumers, rating our likes and our dislikes of how our own little parish runs, griping without growing in our faith or in our knowledge of Jesus, OR thoset that are incessant do-gooders in terms of social justice. It’s nice. But an atheist can be great at helping people.

What kind of “disciples” are we? I mean in our growth in knowledge of Jesus, and not in *anything* or *anyone* else, no matter how good it sounds, or how old it is. The year 200? Forget about it. Go back to the year the Apostle John died, and before that, to Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came and stayed.

2) pastors and bishops having no vision other than releasing a sigh of relief, when they raise their Annual Diocesan Appeal goals, or draw more people to Mass, because increased numbers look good to a diocese.

The above loss of FOCUS, VISION, and in clarity of thinking about matters of Eternal Value is why we are in the mess we are in right now. It is the purpose for this article about Catholic entities (and everyone else) that have been able to undermine our bishops, seen as men that live in glass houses, and they cannot throw stones.

Jesus was able to throw tables around in the Temple, because He had no hidden secrets. The apostles, men of character that belived, “We must obey God, not men”, although they were hated, at some level, they had to have been respected for their convictions, and by everyone. They were the kind of men that fit the bill in terms of qualifications for an ordained man, or a respected lay elder. They acted in UNITY. Not acting in UNITY meant you were *not* one of them. The apostles, Paul among them, were not all over the page. There was a means of getting anyone that strayed from the flock to get back into line. Read Paul’s letters about a few ways to handle that. But do our US bishops heed that wisdom?
Do world-wide bishops follow God’s word, and act in unison? No.

Bottom line: it’s inevitable that there will be problems. We lost sight of God’s Word. We have not been “doing Church” according to Bible wisdom, where elders existed to handle day-to-day business of church, so ordained men were given time to TEACH & PREACH, building the flock and drawing everyone closer to Christ by Word and by Example.

It does not have to stay like this. We can always turn to God. With the National Day of Prayer coming up the first Thursday in May (May 3, I think) Catholics across the country can meet at their own little parish, and pray for our nation, and for a return to God-honoring morals in our country, and for leaders (church and government) that will LEAD. God honors prayer. An ordained man need not lead. The diocese need not send a “Master of Ceremonies” to choreograph the event.

Just pray. And with the potential loss of Religious Liberty in our country, due to the HHS mandate, we’d all better pray like we’ve never prayed before, empowering our bishops to teach and preach God’s truth.

Posted by In the pew on Wednesday, Apr 4, 2012 11:56 AM (EST):

@Terah James “the role of a Pastoral Council member is that of an “Elder”. He is seen to be in authority at a parish.” You are way off base and need to be educated. Terrah, if you think someone on a Catholic parish council is “seen” as an Elder (as in a Christian church) you have a lot to learn. Elder boards have authority to hire or dismiss pastors. In the context of administration, finance and adhering to biblical truth, Christian pastors are accountable to their Elder board and Christian pastors have far less authority than do Catholic pastors. Catholic priests are accountable to their Bishop,—not their council. Catholic parish councils are frequently stacked with individuals who only rubber stamp what their priest wants to do. Councils purposely avoid confrontational issues and sometimes even fiduciary obligations. Have you ever been to a parish council meeting when the council voted against a direction the Pastor wanted to take the parish in terms of social justice initiatives, staffing, youth and seniors ministry, capital improvements, building upgrades and IT, video or telecommunication upgrades? Aside from a diocesan directive, nothing is going to happen at a parish unless the Pastor grants his approval. He may take council viewpoints into consideration, but in the end, he makes the final decision even if the council disagrees. Your parish is not a democracy. Fortunately, most Pastors are reasonable and make wise, careful decisions. But you are wrong headed to think your parish council is seen as an Elder board as in a Christian church.

Posted by Terah James on Tuesday, Apr 3, 2012 4:22 PM (EST):

Gene-
What do you mean by, “That is why many Catholics no longer participate”?

I interpret “no longer participating” as:
1- They left the Roman Catholic Church for another Christian denomination.
2- They stay in the Roman Catholic church, physically, but mentally and emotionally, they checked out, and just go through the motions at Mass.
3- They left the Roman Catholic Church and Christianity, throwing the baby out with the bathwater, forsaking the gathering of the assembly, and not worshipping anywhere.

Secondly, I am troubled by the news from Austria that Cardinal Schonborn of Vienna overruled the decision of one of his priests, Fr. Gerhard Swierzek, who had not allowed a 26 year old homosexual man, who is in a civil union with another man, to be on his pastoral council. Although the 26 year old parishioner won 95 out of 146 votes (give or take) the priest said, no. But Cardinal Schonborn had lunch with the parishioner last weekend, and said he *approves* of him. Earlier, he agreed w/ the pastor. Now, he changed his mind.

This is after our own recent case in Maryland, where the bishop removed a priest from ministry, claiming he created a hostile work environment for his staff, but the same priest had only days before tactfully refused Communion at the funeral Mass of the deceased’s openly lesbian daughter.

When our US bishops meet in June, they MUST be made aware that their mixed messages are causing every Christian to lose credibility to the secular world. Bishops in the US+world-wide need to BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

Bishops & Cardinals (“Princes of the Church”) such as Cardinal Schorborn, that do not adhere to Bible principles, need to be removed from office.

Bottom line: the role of a Pastoral Council member is that of an “Elder”. He is seen to be in authority at a parish, to be an advisor to the pastor. How could a 26 year old homosexual man (in a civil union with another man) be considered for that role? No wonder all bishop’s authority is in question. Get them out.

Men like Schornborn are not successors of any apostle. What New Testament apostle would conclude what Schornborn did? NONE. Only the Sons of Eli (Old Testament) would think like he does. Either shape them up or GET THEM OUT.

Our own Religious Freedom is on the line. 22 US bishops with guts to speak out like MEN is not enough.

Posted by Gene on Monday, Apr 2, 2012 8:15 PM (EST):

I think many responses accurately assess the lack of leadership and conviction in the contemporary Church. That is why many Catholics no longer participate.

Posted by Terah James on Monday, Apr 2, 2012 5:51 PM (EST):

To the last three comments today: from MarkyJoe & New Observer- I say: Amen and Amen!

MarkyJoe - I plan to quote you, your point was that well made. And there are plenty of other organizations that also got exemptions, after they came out in *support* of Obamacare.

New Observer - I too, will gladly follow our hierarchy, when each can truly answer as did Peter, when Jesus asked him, “Peter, do you love me?”

Only 22 of the US bishops showed up for their own dioceses’ Freedom of Religion rally on March 23. Only 22 out of how many? Over 200 bishops?
What are the others doing, sitting on their hands? Wringing their hands out of fear? Waiting to see what every other bishop will do? How can anyone follow that lead? I’m a woman. Yet I must have more testosterone in me than they have in them, because I do “GO TEACH”, and speak my mind, in public.

I repeat:
At the USCCB meetings this June, bishops should invite Dick Lyells from the Catholic Business Hour to instruct them on how to regain their authority over their dioceses (including priests, that are often loose canons, doing their own thing).

Leading is a management SKILL that comes from having a shared VISION and a keen FOCUS, COMMUNICATION skills, and the means of holding everyone accountable (including the bishops themselves), with regular FOLLOW-UP and a way to MEASURE PROGRESS.

The drawback to disregarding wisdom found in Scripture that applies to how our *church structure* is to be, is that bishops and the Vatican lost their credibility and their authority.

Only the most gullible of Catholics follow the lead of men with no leadership skills; men who cannot say “YES!” to Jesus, as did Peter, when asked, “Do you love me?” *doing* what Jesus asked of him: “Care for my sheep.”

Bishops like to refer to themselves as the “successors of the apostles”. But look at the outcome. The REAL apostles were successful.

The REAL apostles made disciples, as New Observer wrote, “So no, I reject Cardinal Dolan’s view that Catholics historically and presently can take solace in his view of why Catholics are outwardly uncomfortable about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.” We should all be made equipped to share the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Bishops should lead the way, showing priests that in turn, show lay people.

Posted by New Observer on Monday, Apr 2, 2012 12:25 PM (EST):

Howard Duncan quoted Cardinal Dolan’s statement: Fr. Robert,—Cardinal Dolan is quoted today: “Catholics in the United States have been rather shy about any public witness to their faith in the marketplace because of what? The innate ingrained anti-Catholicism that is part of the Puritan culture of the United States.”—— I cannot accept this statement by Cardinal Dolan as a legitimate or even a reasonable excuse for Catholics to fail to defend the gospel. The Cardinal may personally feel this about himself, however, this is his opinion only. Paul tells us in Romans 1 upon once hearing truth we are “without excuse.” Every believer, Catholic or Protestant has been commissioned to “GO” and teach. This is our mission given by Christ not simply for the clergy but for every follower of Christ. The GOing is presented in many opportunities including family, friends, neighbors, colleagues at work or school, media and the public square. Surprisingly, the GOing can even mean in church. So no, I reject Cardinal Dolan’s view that Catholics historically and presently can take solace in his view of why Catholics are outwardly uncomfortable about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. As with everything, timing and the right approach is always important.

Posted by New Observer on Monday, Apr 2, 2012 12:05 PM (EST):

@Fr. Robert Coogan who posted: “I am glad you all know better than the bishops how to run the Church.” Yours is the usual defense given by the clergy. We are adults, Fr., professionals and college educated. You cannot use that argument as you might with parish grammar school children. With all due repect, running the church requires leadership skill beyond the essclesiatical. They need to be administratively and media savvy (or at least have competent staff people who are). We are now in the age of Power Point and not overhead projectors. I am pleased to see their strong advocacy now in this HHS issue, however, why did it take so long to see this was going to happen? Those of us in the laity have been well out in front on this issue including knowing what this President and Eric Holder would do about DOMA and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It is not unfair to ask why church leadership is always late for the train? Those of us in pews will follow when men will actually lead. The void has been evident for too long.

Posted by markyjoe on Monday, Apr 2, 2012 7:46 AM (EST):

If a person feels the need to have their contraception, sterilization and/or abortions paid for with no co-pays or deductibles, then she/he is perfectly free to find employment with an employer with a dead conscience that is willing to do so. No-one is forcing anyone to believe or accept the Catholic Church’s teaching on the matter. As a matter of fact if it weren’t for HHS, the overwhelming majority of employees at Catholic institutions would be completely oblivious to Mother Church’s teaching since we do not generally preach to our employees or students, only to the faithful, and at the proper venue (ie. not at work or school). Indeed many in the pews at the local parish do not hear this from the pulpit, it simply is not at the center of our attention. The Gov’t made this into a political issue, a simple exemption would have laid this to rest, like the exemption that McDonald’s was awarded.

Posted by Terah James on Saturday, Mar 31, 2012 6:09 PM (EST):

Bottom line, the question we will all have to answer is, “Who is Jesus to you?”

It is up to Rome, our own dioceses, bishops & our priests to teach us correctly. Get the answer incorrect, and all we have is religion. And religion in and of itself, does not save anyone. This world is not all there is.

Posted by Howard Duncan on Saturday, Mar 31, 2012 1:48 PM (EST):

Fr. Robert, I had dinner with a friend I had not seen in many years. He said to me,“My daughter has just become a Catholic. Do you believe that?” I said to him, “Yes, so have I”. We have never really talked about religion before, he just assumed I would be AUTOMATICALLY against it. This is what we are up against in the public square.

Posted by Howard Duncan on Saturday, Mar 31, 2012 1:06 PM (EST):

Fr. Robert, Cardinal Dolan is quoted today: “Catholics in the United States have been rather shy about any public witness to their faith in the marketplace because of what? The innate ingrained anti-Catholicism that is part of the Puritan culture of the United States.”——I don’t think that the laity is trying to run the Church, but asking for more participation in public from the whole Church. You are hearing frustration. If not excommunication, then public rebuke. Canon law tells us those things that need correcting. The kind of correction we are asking for is the wild anti-Catholic opinion from Catholics that influence public voting - and eventually our relegation to more than just the sidelines. As a webmaster I take my lead from my Bishop as to tone and intensity of religious freedom activity. As for arm chair, I am in the streets marching, and online upholding Church teachings.

Posted by Fr. Robert Coogan on Saturday, Mar 31, 2012 11:52 AM (EST):

I am glad you all know better than the bishops how to run the Church. Armchair opinions are so very easy, and the personal consequences nonexistent. Pastoral concern is quite different. Nor are we talking textbook issues but rather health care issues with real victims, very important among them the unborn, those innocent victims. But if your local hospital closes down because the delicate juggling of funds went awry, you might see why the studying of the issue is taking so long, and why some people get so frustrated that they say things they might later regret. Thank you, Howard Duncan, I know my Canon Law, as do the bishops. We have a law, but it is tempered by compassion.

Posted by irishsmile on Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 8:44 PM (EST):

We are drowning in rhetoric from dissident, noisy Catholics. Unless and until the USCCB, stands together and publicaly admonishes this bunch, the dissidents will continue to tell Catholics in the pews that they, the dissidents, run the church!!!

Posted by Howard Duncan on Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 4:49 PM (EST):

Fr. Robert, please read Cannon 1369 “A person is to be punished with a just penalty, who, at a public event or assembly, or in a published writing, or by otherwise using the means of social communication, utters blasphemy, or gravely harms public morals, or rails at or excites hatred of or contempt for religion or the Church.”. I have a high regard for your dedication to the preisthood and the Church and thank you for that; I just disagree with you.

Posted by Terah James on Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 4:48 PM (EST):

To: Father Robert Coogan-
If US bishops are as effective in teaching lay people the Deposit of Faith, & wise in their decisions up to now, as you write, why did Nancy Pelosi (Catholic) call bishops “just another group of lobbyists”?

Pelosi opts to go along with what she called the “majority” of US Catholics, those not paying attention to what bishops say.

How does that honor God? How are bishops using the authority which they’ve been given, when they give Catholics that are clearly not following Bible truths, a pass to do their own thing?

As I see it, posters in this blog are 100% correct in calling for ACTION on the part of bishops, and excommunication for Catholics openly speaking against the church in the 5 Non-Negotiables regarding Morality- politicians, and anyone *with authority* freely giving his/her own opinions in public among them; not reporters just reporting on a story.
But those “Catholics” that are not Christian, by their own admission.

Priests need to preach the fullness of the Gospel, from the pulpit, and not be afraid to touch upon hot-button issues, such as the 5 Non-Negotiables. Bishops need to find their courage, and empower the priests to LEAD their flocks.

Posted by New Observer on Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 4:21 PM (EST):

@Fr. Robert Coogan: With all due respect, your comments are typical of the clergy. There are enough videos available on file of things people like Pelsoi and Catholic Senator Patrick Leahy, Gov Andrew Cuomo (and others) have stated *out of their own mouth.* These are not coming from a reporter’s bias. As for myself, I am not calling for excommunication, however, when notable Catholics are speaking things to unchurched media and America, and when Catholic authorities appear unwilling or afraid to step up to the plate, it is no wonder non Catholics see us operating all over the map and not standing on principle. Frankly, Fr., I think those of us in the pew have stronger convictions than many of the Bishops and Priests.

Posted by Howard Duncan on Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 4:11 PM (EST):

Fr. Robert, an admirable defense but you leave out television and radio where a public person can be heard first hand and is not hearsay. I agree that the Bishops should be left alone to council as they see fit and it has been done to many peoples delight in the case of Sibelious. Excommunication is automatic in many acts that are done against Church teaching, this would seem to support the right of public condemnation that does not need the approval of a Bishop.

Posted by Fr. Robert Coogan on Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 2:36 PM (EST):

The bishops are not so foolish as to think the world is black and white. What a terrible Church we would have if the bishops were like some of the commentators above who promote excommunication based on hearsay. As much as one trusts a reporter, the reporter’s coverage will necessarily have a certain bias. That’s human nature, and also the only way to make an article comprehensible. Where health care professionals with long term experience are concerned, there is a need to try to see what is behind their position. I am sure the American bishops are capable of studying the situation and responding without the hysteria of secret plots, suborned interests and charges of indifference to the teaching of the Church. Those of us who are not in the public light are lucky that everything we say is not subjected to scrutiny. Simple respect for someone who has taken religious vows and continues to live them (not an easy thing in our world) ought to be enough to temper some of the above outbursts of indignation and understand the wise stance of the American bishops with regard to this matter.

Posted by New Observer on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 9:26 PM (EST):

So how come the Bishops have not issued a declarative and very clear statement that Nancy Pelosi, Kathleen Sibelius and Sister Carol hold positions which are both unbiblical and inconsistent with Catholic teaching? It’s like they are afraid of these women. What’s the problem? Why the delay?

Posted by MaggieMC on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 6:13 PM (EST):

Irish. I join with you if you include Kathleen Sibelius.

Posted by MaggieMC on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 6:07 PM (EST):

please excommunicate Sister Keehan. She us in open defiance of her bishops. Her pride is montrous.

Posted by Terah James on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 5:32 PM (EST):

At the bishops meetings this June, bishops should take a good managerial approach by staying on the same page, and allowing Scripture to lead them.
Dick Lyells from Catholic Business Journal would be a good speaker for the bishops, as he would be able to help them with management skills.

Right now, we have a Bishop de Jour with a Pope de Jour attitude, so that American Catholics are like Jews during the time of Judges when “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” This is a recipe for disaster.

Bishops need to be unified, and under GOD. That’s the only way they will have any credibility among those people in the pews, and in the press. The stakes are just too high, for bishops to go back to their old routines, and in-fighting about silly things that really don’t matter, in the long run.

Because they have been so disjointed, concerning themselves with trivia, the Sister Carol’s of the world have come forward and begun to lead. Bishops rendered themselves irrelevant and disposable, and it’s been happening for over 30 years - for the entire time JPII was pope, because it was he that appointed almost all the bishops we have now.

It makes me remember what Gloria Steinam said about men during the days when women were burning their bra’s: “Women have become the men we always wanted.” Sr. Carol Keene is the bishop she always wanted, and best yet, she’s the best bishop for left-wing liberal Catholics, press and politicians. Heads up! We need to smell the coffee now, bishops included. Call Dick Lyells and learn management skills.

Posted by Howard Duncan on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 2:36 PM (EST):

Irish said: “Is it wrong to ask that Sr. Carol and Nancy Pelosi be somehow stricken dumb .........”—-I think it is too late for Pelosi.

Posted by Irish on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 1:14 PM (EST):

Is it wrong to ask that Sr. Carol and Nancy Pelosi be somehow stricken dumb so that they cannot spread any more lies about Catholicism? Maybe they could be like Zachary who was stricken dumb until Elizabeth gave birth to St. John the Baptist. At that point, Zachary regained his speech and testified to the glory of God.

Posted by Asza on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 12:17 PM (EST):

Have no fear. Christ - the whole Christ, Head and members - are the sign of contradiction which when opposed lays bare the thoughts of many hearts, leading to the rising and the falling of many. Too bad the price of this is a sword thrust through the Immaculate Heart of our Blessed Mother. Thank you, dearest Mary, for being willing to suffer so much for so many poor sinners. (That’s all of us, by the way.)

Posted by Howard Duncan on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 10:03 AM (EST):

Ms. Nancy Pelosi seems to be exercising and advocating open rebellion within the Catholic Church. She denies the authority of Church leaders. She has said that the church does not “ENFORCE” (her exact word) the teaching against the use of contraception. This attitude is at odds with the major effort of her life – creating laws that are enforced by heavy fines and armed police. She demands obedience to her laws but refuses to be obedient to the major rules of an organization in which she professes membership, has no rulemaking standing and is not prevented from leaving. She needs to be called on this hypocrisy.

Posted by Jimmy Martello on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 1:06 AM (EST):

Thank you to the Catholic Bishops of the United States and to each and a member of the congregations that signed their suppport for our bishop. I am praying for you all. I wish I could thank and pray for each one of you by name.
Having said this, please pray for me. This entire situation is a scandal to me to my depths. My soul anguishes over the horror of this issue and the damage it is doing to the peace of the Church.

Posted by Martha on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012 12:26 AM (EST):

The CHA website lists Bishop Kevin Vann as the “Episcopal liaison” for their board of directors. I have not heard or read that he has publicly spoken out against the CHA’s undermining of the bishops authority. It would seem that Bishop Vann has some responsibility in this situation to publicly stand up for the Church. Maybe he is working behind the scenes to convince the CHA to change their anti- Catholic, anti-bishop position. The reporter for this article should have interviewed Bishop Vann to obtain his insight since he is a member of the CHA board of directors and he works with Sister Carol and others authority figures at the CHA.

Posted by A heretic on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 7:42 PM (EST):

In response to florin:
Do any of us know the mind of God? The Holy Spirit is at work, but, consider that CHA and LCWR may represent the good, not the evil.
In response to MaryO:
Is ‘money’ your God? If an elderly sister has spent her life in service to other human beings, would you turn your back on her in her time of need? ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’
In response to TG:
What would you have the Church do to “these radical (leftovers from the 60’s) nuns”? Does God think of women as ‘leftovers’?

Posted by Gene on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 6:40 PM (EST):

I believe God has a “plan” for the Church that is not necessarily grasped by its leadership. Perhaps He means to shake its foundation. My prayer is simply that God’s will be done.

Posted by S Flory on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 5:45 PM (EST):

Leaders of Catholic organizations who stand agaist the Bishops are heretics. Unfortunately Bishops who can’t bring themselves to formally excommunincate them have themselves to blame. Canon 915 covers disobedience such as this but only a few of our Bishops have taken such action. A divided Church will bring much suffering on the Church when the government takes full advantage of the division to promote its own plan. Weakness promotes surrender is a lesson to be learned from the past.

Posted by c matt on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 5:35 PM (EST):

The media doesn’t understand the Church and the apostolic secession.

Maybe not, but any journalist of even mediocre competence should be able to find out. It’s not a big secret. MOre likely, they just don’t care because they have a different agenda.

Posted by Paul Rinderle on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 4:22 PM (EST):

These Bishops first obligation is to get these renegades to Heaven. By not setting them straight however he does it is the greater sin.

Posted by florin on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 3:59 PM (EST):

The Bishops have undermined their own authority. People stand openly and arrogantly against the Church, her teachings and her Bishops and call other Catholics to stand with them. Nancy Pelosi openly and aggressively mocks the Church, her teachings, her traditions, her Bishops and publicly declares that she is in the right and that most Catholics, including Catholic Religious stand with her and the bishops let her get away with it, affirming her in her sins and in her stands against the Church. It’s almost too late to turn back the tide of antiCatholicism that Pelosi and other Catholics in public life have begun…but, of course, the Holy Spirit is at work and can bring good even out of evil.

Posted by Reynaldo Juanico on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 3:49 PM (EST):

If CHA and LCWR on one hand and USCCB on the other are not one in supporting some aspects of the Obamacare, they should be strongly advised that they should be one to make an appeal to President Obama to put an end to abortion and contraception. This appeal coupled with the praying of the Holy Rosary by all pro-lifers will soften the heart of the President, enabling him to issue this Mandate: Stop killing the unborn. How’s that CHA, LCWR & USCCB?

Posted by Sally on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 3:33 PM (EST):

Does anyone know how old Sr. Keehan is? She looks to me to be in her 70’s. It really won’t be long before the congregations in the LCWR dry up. It seems that my local newspaper has obituaries for religious sisters quite often. It is inversely proportionate to the large number of new vocations entering the orders represented by the other organization. In 5 to 10 years, there might be a big difference in religious life in the U.S. The religious sister who spoke anonymously in the article was afraid of repercussions by her superiors. What could possibly happen? Maybe these religious sisters who are suffering silently out of fear should join together and start another order/congregation.

Posted by Reynaldo Juanico on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 3:30 PM (EST):

If CHA and LCWR on one hand and USCCB on the other are not one in supporting some aspects of the Obamacare, they should be strongly advised that they should be one to make an appeal to President Obama to put an end to abortion and contraception. This appeal coupled with the praying of the Holy Rosary by all pro-lifers will soften the heart of the President, enabling him to issue this Mandate: Stop killing the unborn. How that CHA, LCWR & USCCB?

Posted by The last man on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 1:56 PM (EST):

D Paul: As a Catholic navy vietnam era veteran who served aboard a ship?Thats like saying I was a bad a$$ Marine who served in Europe during the Gulf War.

Posted by Don Schenk on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 1:53 PM (EST):

When the pope was in Cuba he said that Marxism is a failed ideology. Do you think that any of this will get past the “Catholic Entities” to the pewsitters?

Posted by TG on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 1:49 PM (EST):

The Church needs to do something about these radical (leftovers from the 60’s) nuns. I highly respect religious like Mother Angelica and other nuns like her, who truly love Christ and his Church. You would think the conference of bishops could do something about all the radicals in the church.

Posted by The last man on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 1:49 PM (EST):

Steve: I agree I think the Register should comment on the horrible treatment of the priest who refused to give communion to a lesbian -buddist. The ordinary in this case acted with contempt for catholic teaching.

Posted by Sue Scofield on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 1:18 PM (EST):

Why don’t you publicize the fact that many of the so-called dissident Catholic organizations are organized and funded by George Soros? Catholics need to know that. The media, of course, doesn’t want to know it, and ignores it if they do know it. - Sue

Posted by Gene on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 12:54 PM (EST):

The Bishops brought this upon themselves with their initial support of Obamacare and preoccupation with the rights of illegal immigrants, liberation theology, etc.
Apparently Sister Keehan was never held accountable for her open positions. So by the Bishops earlier silence approval was seemingly given to the Sister Keehans.

Posted by Kevin on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 12:47 PM (EST):

In the words of Archbishop Chaput…
“Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominant and then tries to silence good”

This is just one more tool of the enemy to beguile and cause division. We must pray for these organiztions that have run “off of the reservation”. Most importantly, we must pray for our nation, the body of the faithful here in the United States and for our Holy Mother Church as One Body.

St. Michael the Archangel, Defend us in Battle…

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS

Posted by Paul Bennett on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 12:33 PM (EST):

That Federal money is addictive. That’s why they put Lucifer’s eye upon the dollar bill - to “give us light”! But efficiency is another trap. We get so caught up in the logistics of our jobs that we forget God. Prayer is the only way to avoid this error. We must all fill our days with prayer. Pray before going to work, pray before meals, pray with our clients, pray at bedtime… it’s too easy to drop the prayer time to perform our jobs more efficiently.

Posted by MaryO on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 11:27 AM (EST):

This is fairly simple. Every year, the Catholic churches in America take up a collection for the retired sisters. It’s one of the biggest collections of the year. Since these sisters don’t want to be beholden to the bishops, I’m sure that they do not want to be included in that collection, right? So they will have no problem, when the bishop excludes their order from the collection in his diocese which should go only to those orders not afraid to support the bishops. Catholic laity should push their bishops to take such a simple stand. Bishops should notify the sisters of their stand BEFORE the collection.

Posted by D Paul on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 11:08 AM (EST):

As a Catholic Navy Vietnam era veteran with four years of shipboard service, I support the stance of Archbishop Joseph Naumann. These two groups of women were joined by the 28 member Assn of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Posted by George L on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 11:02 AM (EST):

I am constantly conflicted over my Priest’s lack of obedience to our Bishop. Is it any wonder that the laity is not obedient to anyone or anything except their own emotions?

Posted by colleen tauke on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 10:20 AM (EST):

I agree, Sister Keehan, needs to reprimanded, or at the minimum the media needs to be told she does not stand for all Catholic Religious. They seem to love to focus on her and her “ideas” to try and divide us…..The media doesn’t understand the Church and the apostolic secession. You are to follow your bishop not openly defy him….. Those trade associations need to either be Catholic or cease to use our name….Religious orders need to be brought back to their true mission - to live the gospel and be Christ visible in the world today. I highly doubt Christ would approve the direction they have wandered…..follow Him, not the one who would do harm to His creation…..

Posted by Sandra on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 10:14 AM (EST):

Like many faithful Catholics, I take the teachings straight from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, not from CHA or CWR, or the NFCYM.

Whether I follow them to the letter of the law, or the heart of the matter, is between me, my confessor and the Trinity.

Posted by Steve on Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012 7:47 AM (EST):

Such is the state of the Church in America that a priest is more likely to be suspended and publicly reprimanded for refusing to give Holy Communion to an open homosexual and Buddhist than someone who publicly and openly defies the bishops authority on a critical public policy issue. Of what use is the divinely granted authority of the Church hierarchy if it is so infrequently and unevenly exercised? Sister Keehan is in open rebellion against the Church and yet does so openly and publicly with no fear of retribution. And in so doing is signaling to all that the bishops are paper tigers. Just imagine the humble servants who left their families, gave up everything to join a religious order to serve Christ and now are afraid to support the teachings of the Hol Foman Catholic Church! Sister KeehN needs to be made a timely, visible and forceful example if anyone is to take the bishops’ protest seriously. They have to know that. So if they don’t act what are they really telling us?

Join the Discussion

We encourage a lively and honest discussion of our content. We ask that charity guide your words.
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our discussion guidelines.
Comments are published at our discretion. We won’t publish comments that lack charity, are off topic, or are more than 400 words.
Thank you for keeping this forum thoughtful and respectful.